Sealing closure caps

ABSTRACT

1. Apparatus for sealing skirted closure caps onto containers having open mouths, comprising a support for the containers each of which has one of the skirted closure caps thereon closing the mouth thereof, with the skirt depending circumferentially thereabout, ROTATABLY MOUNTED SEALING MEANS ROTATING ON AN AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIAL WITH THE CAP AND THE SKIRT THEREOF, MEANS ROTATING THE SEALING MEANS, THE SEALING MEANS BEING AXIALLY FIXED BUT MOVABLY MOUNTED TO TEND TO MOVE RADIALLY INWARDLY TO ENGAGE THE CAP AT THE SKIRT PORTION THEREOF BY CENTRIFUGAL FORCE, MEANS RESTRAINING SAID SEALING MEANS AGAINST MOVING INWARDLY WHEREBY THE SEALING MEANS NORMALLY STAYS IN SPACED RELATION WITH RESPECT TO THE CAP WITHOUT IMPINGING UPON IT, AND MEANS INTERDICTING THE ACTION OF THE CAP SEALING MOTION RESTRAINING MEANS TO ALLOW CENTRIFUGAL FORCE TO MOVE THE CAP SEALING MEANS TOWARD THE CONTAINER CAP AND IMPINGE UPON THE SAME TO SEAL IT RELATIVE TO THE MOUTH OF THE CONTAINER, THE CAP SEALING RESTRAINING MEANS BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN AN OPERATIVE POSITION WHERE IT ENGAGES THE SEALING MEANS AND LIMITS THE INWARD MOTION THEREOF DUE TO THE CENTRIFUGAL ACTION, AND AN INOPERATIVE POSITION WHERE IT WHOLLY RELEASES THE SEALING MEANS, AND MEANS TO MOVE THE CONTAINER IN A DIRECTION TO ENGAGE AND MOVE THE CAP SEALING RESTRAINING MEANS FROM OPERATIVE TO INOPERATIVE POSITION, A ROTARY SUPPORT FOR SAID CAP SEALING MEANS AND MEANS TO ROTATE IT THEREBY ROTATING THE CAP SEALING MEANS, SAID CAP SEALING RESTRAINING MEANS INCLUDING A ROTARY MEMBER HAVING AN OPERATIVE POSITION FOR RESTRAINING THE CAP SEALING MEANS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ROTARY SUPPORT, AND AN INOPERATIVE POSITION OUT OF COOPERATION RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO SAID ROTARY SUPPORT.

tlnite States atet Melott 1 *July4,1972

[54] SEALING CLOSURE CAPS [72] Inventor: Norman W. Melott, Moundsville, W. Va.

[73] Assignee: Cook-Waite Laboratories, Inc., New York,

[ Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to July 4, 1987, has been disclaimed.

[22] Filed: March 8, 1966 [21] Appl. No.: 532,663

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,090,689 4/1955 France ..53/334 255,015 8/1926 GreatBritain ..53/334 Primary Examiner'Travis S. McGehee Att0rneyCharles R. Fay

EXEMPLARY CLAIM 1. Apparatus for sealing skirted closure caps onto containers having open mouths, comprising a support for the containers each of which has one of the skirted closure caps thereon closing the mouth thereof, with the skirt depending circumferentially thereabout,

rotatably mounted sealing means rotating on an axis substantially coaxial with the cap and the skirt thereof, means rotating the sealing means, the sealing means being axially fixed but movably mounted to tend to move radially inwardly to engage the cap at the skirt portion thereof by centrifugal force, means restraining said sealing means against moving inwardly whereby the sealing means normally stays in spaced relation with respect to the cap without impinging upon it,

and means interdicting the action of the cap sealing motion restraining means to allow centrifugal force to move the cap sealing means toward the container cap and impinge upon the same to seal it relative to the mouth of the con tainer,

the cap sealing restraining means being movable between an operative position where it engages the sealing means and limits the inward motion thereof due to the centrifugal action, and an inoperative position where it wholly releases the sealing means, and means to move the container in a direction to engage and move the cap sealing restraining means from operative to inoperative position,

a rotary support for said cap sealing means and means to rotate it thereby rotating the cap sealing means, said cap sealing restraining means including a rotary member having an operative position for restraining the cap sealing means in engagement with said rotary support, and an inoperative position out of cooperation relationship with respect to said rotary support.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SEALING CLOSURE CAPS This invention relates to a new and improved machine and method for sealing closure caps ordinarily of metal to containers, e.g. vials, ampoules, etc. The closure caps are usually of metal and each has a central opening, there being a diaphragm underlying the same, the caps being spun onto the necks of the containers, sealing the same in condition to be easily entered, as by the diaphragm, by means of a hypodermic needle, to utilize the medicament or other material in the container.

The principal object of the present invention relates to the provision of a simpler apparatus than those of the prior art and which does not have as many moving parts apt to wear, avoiding the use of cams, levers, wedges, springs, etc. such as are ordinarily used in the prior art for this purpose. Instead this invention utilizes centrifugal force to operate sealing members and force them into relationship with the circumferential parts of the blank which is to form the cap, crimping the same with relation to the neck of the container and making an impervious permanent closure therefor. A very few simple parts do the work, which requires a great deal more machinery in the prior art, making for an efficient trouble-free operation and a clean design free of the clutter of machine parts, thus making it easier to render the operations sterile and resulting in longer runs without the need for replacing worn out parts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FlG. l is a view in elevation with parts being in section and showing the parts inoperative;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but with parts omitted and showing the crimping or sealing tools in operative position on a larger scale.

Only so much of the invention is shown as is necessary to provide those skilled in the art with the knowledge to carry out the invention. Conventional control switches, motors, etc. are not shown as being conventional in the art. There is provided a framework 10 on which is mounted a standard 12. Framework 10 mounts a turret generally indicated at 14, this turret being rotary and having a series of peripherally arranged pockets in the edge portions thereof at 16. The pockets are parallel to the axis of the turret and are provided for the reception and hold ing of e.g. ampoules 18 in upright position thereon. These ampoules ordinarily are provided with necks 20 forming a rim about which the cap is to be secured. It is to be understood that the turret indexes about its axis and successively brings ampoules to the capping station.

The standard 12 mounts a pair of supports as at 22 and 24, these in turn mounting a pair of spindles, an outer hollow cylindrical spindle 26 and an inner solid spindle 28. Only outer spindle 26 is rotated as for instance by a pulley or other means 30, belt 32, etc. receiving its energy from a motor not shown. The outer spindle 26 can be mounted as for instance by a ball or thrust bearing not shown mounted in the bracket 22. The inner spindle 28 may be held by a bearing or other support 34 on bracket 24. The inner spindle 28 is reciprocable within the outer spindle 26.

Attached to the lower end of the vertically movable inner spindle 28 is a cap adjusting or centering member indicated at 36 and having a conical recess 38 in the lower portion thereof. This recess faces the ampoule. Just above this conical centering member there is a ball bearing 42 which has an inner race fast to spindle 28 and a free outer race 40 which may bear on a pair of rollers, balls, or the like 43, 43. These rolls are horizontal and are mounted on arms 44, 44 pivoted at 46, 46 to a support collar or the like 48 mounted in fixed relation on the outer spindle 26. The arms 44,44 extend radially outwardly and are provided with weights 50, 50 at their upper ends so that normally the lower ends of the arms, i.e., the portions thereof below pivots 46, 46 tend to move inwardly due to centrifugal force. The lower ends of arms 44 support the rolls 43,

43 as well as tools 52, 52 which extend radially inwardly toward each other and crimp the cap about the mouth of the ampoule 18, sealing it.

The bearing 42 is vertically reciprocable with the inner spindle 28, and when it is in down position, it bears on the rollers 43 pivoting the tools 52 away from the central axis of the ampoule, against the centrifugal action. When the inner spindle 28 is moved upwardly slightly, the rolls are released and the tools 52 are enabled to move in toward each other. The outer spindle continuously rotates in turn rotating support 48, and the centrifugal action thus derived causes the tools 52, 52 to approach and crimp the cap onto the neck of the ampoule. The inner spindle 28 is prevented from rotating by any means such as a key 54 which engages a flat or keyway near the upper end of the inner spindle.

There is a spring 56 located in a housing 58 which holds the inner spindle 28 normally down with the bearing race 40 engaging rolls 43, but which is yieldable on upward pressure being applied to the cap centering member 36. A screw at 60 is provided as an adjustable stop means for limiting the upward motion of the spindle 28 and this can be adjusted merely by turning the screw.

The reference numeral 61 indicates a plunger which is periodically moved upwardly in a vertical guide 61a which is in fixed position on framework 10. The plunger thus engages the lower end of the vertically arranged ampoule 18 in the holder 16 pressing the same against the cap adjusting member 36. At the top end of the plunger 61 there is a half-ball used as a leveling device as at 62 and this axially engages the lower end of the ampoule.

The leveling device or half-ball 62 has an upper flat face that contacts the bottom of the ampoule 18. The half-ball is free to move a few degrees off horizontal, thereby bridging any high points of the ampoule bottom end and distributing the upward load evenly. This prevents breakage of the fragile ampoules. A spring 64 abuts the head of a pin or the like 66 and an internal shoulder 68 in the plug 70 that houses the halfball, which can shift on its seat 72.

In the operation of the device, the turret 14 rotates in steps, bringing one after the other a series of ampoules 18 in correct position relative to the leveling device 62 on the plunger 61 and just under the centering device 36. Each ampoule has already been provided with a skirted cap 74. Means not shown are provided for moving the plunger upwardly, thus raising the ampoule 18 in its holder 16, engaging the centering member 36 and causing the cap shown at 64 to be centered relative to the ampoule neck. Continued motion of the plunger causes the ampoule to move the entire inner spindle 28 upwardly against the action of spring 56, releasing the bearing race 40 from the rolls 43 and thereby allowing the rotary motion of the outer spindle 26 to centrifugally cause the legs 44, 44 to move outwardly bringing tools 52, 52 into crimping engagement with the skirt on the cap blank. The tools 52, 52 are so shaped as to cause crimping of the cap onto the neck of the ampoule.

The parts are timed so that when the crimping action is through the plunger 61, the ampoule, and the inner spindle all move downwardly, the tools 52, 52 thereby moving away from the ampoule axis due to impingement of bearing race 40 on roll 43, and the turret l4 indexes to discharge the now capped ampoule and bring a new ampoule into position.

It is to be understood that the rotation of the turret is intermittent in a horizontal plane and not shown but well known in the art there is provided a supply container for the containers or ampoules so that they are moved down and into the pockets on the turret one by one. Each upright ampoule is filled with the material desired, and then a cap feeding station having a supply of skirted metal caps applies these to the ampoules with the skirts arranged downwardly, surrounding the open necks of the containers or ampoules as is well known in the art.

Through the use of this invention the caps are applied quickly and smoothly and very few parts of the machine wear, as compared with capping machines of the prior art. Also, the parts are fewer and more easily kept sterile.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, 1 do not wish to be limited to the details herein dis-' closed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. Apparatus for sealing skirted closure caps onto containers having open mouths, comprising a support for the containers each of which has one of the skirted closure caps thereon closing the mouth thereof, with the skirt depending circumferentially thereabout,

rotatably mounted sealing means rotating on an axis substantially coaxial with the cap and the skirt thereof, means rotating the sealing means, the sealing means being axially fixed but movably mounted to tend to move radially inwardly to engage the cap at the skirt portion thereof by centrifugal force, means restraining said sealing means against moving inwardly whereby the sealing means normally stays in spaced relation with respect to the cap without impinging upon it,

and means interdicting the action of the cap sealing motion restraining means to allow centrifugal force to move the cap sealing means toward the container cap and impinge upon the same to seal it relative to the mouth of the container,

the cap sealing restraining means being movable between an operative position where it engages the sealing means and limits the inward motion thereof due to the centrifugal action, and an inoperative position where it wholly releases the sealing means, and means to move the container in a direction to engage and move the cap sealing restraining means from operative to inoperative position,

a rotary support for said cap sealing means and means to rotate it thereby rotating the cap sealing means, said cap sealing restraining means including a rotary member having an operative position for restraining the cap sealing means in engagement with said rotary support, and an inoperative position out of cooperative relationship with respect to said rotary support.

2. Apparatus for sealing skirted closure caps onto containers having open mouths at corresponding ends, the opposite ends being closed, comprising a sealing station, a rotary table for the containers intermittently traveling the same seriatum past the sealing station, each container having a skirted closure cap thereon closing the mouth thereof with the skirt depending circumferentially relatively loosely thereabout,

sealing means comprising a support, means to rotate the support on an axis, at least two spaced arms, means pivotally mounting said arms on the support, sealing tools on said arms adjacent corresponding ends thereof, weights at the opposite ends of said arms, said weights being radially outwardly located with respect to said tools so that the anns normally tend to move inwardly under centrifugal force for the sealing operation,

a non-rotatable spindle located coaxially with said support and midway of the tools, said spindle being axially movable, a rotatable member on the spindle having a position of engagement with respect to said arms maintaining the arms against moving inwardly for the sealing operation, said spindle being retractable to retract said member out of said position of engagement to allow the arms to move said tools inwardly,

a plunger aligned with said spindle and movable coaxially with respect thereto to engage the closed end of a container at the sealing station, and moving the container so that the skirted closure thereon impinges upon the said non-rotatable spindle, retracting the same and the member thereon into non-engaging position of the latter with respect to the arms, said arms thereupon moving inwardly to perform the sealing operation,

the normal plane of advance of said containers being ofi'set from said tools avoiding interference therewith during the advance of the containers, and the plunger upon moving the container at the sealing station positioning the mouth thereof and cap thereon in a lanewi th the tools. 3. Apparatus as recited in 0 arm 2 including a leveling device on the plunger, said leveling device contacting the container directly and being self-conforming to the contacted area of the container to provide substantially equal pressure at all points of said area.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 including a leveling device on the plunger, said leveling device contacting the container directly and being self-conforming to the contacted area of the container to provide substantially equal pressure at all points of said area, said leveling device being in the general nature of a swivel.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 including a leveling device on the plunger, said leveling device contacting the container directly and being self-conforming to the contacted area of the container to provide substantially equal pressure at all points of said area, said leveling device being in the general nature of a swivel and including a generally flat face that contacts the container.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 including a leveling device on the plunger, said leveling device contacting the container directly and being self-conforming to the contacted area of the container to provide substantially equal pressure at all points of said area, and means supporting said leveling device to allow it to swivel.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the member on the spindle comprises a ring, and including means to mount the ring for the rotation thereof on the spindle.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the member on the spindle comprises a ring, and including means to mount the ring for its rotation thereon coaxially therewith.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 including rotary means on each arm in position to be engaged by said member in the position of engagement thereof with the arms.

10. Apparatus for sealing skirted closure caps onto containers having open mouths, comprising a support for the containers each of which has one of the skirted closure caps thereon closing the mouth thereof, with the skirt depending circumferentially thereabout,

rotatably mounted sealing means rotating on an axis substantially coaxial with the cap and the skirt thereof, means rotating the sealing means, the sealing means being axially fixed but movably mounted to tend to move radially inwardly to engage the cap at the skirt portion thereof by centrifugal force, means restraining said sealing means.

against moving inwardly whereby the sealing means normally stays in spaced relation with respect to the cap without impinging upon it,

and means interdicting the action of the cap sealing motion restraining means to allow centrifugal force to move the cap sealing means toward the container cap and impinge upon the same to seal it relative to the mouth of the container,

a rotary support for said cap sealing means and means to rotate it thereby rotating the cap sealing means, said cap sealing means including a pivoted arm and a cap sealing tool adjacent one end thereof, and a weight at the opposite end of said arm, a rotary member on the arm, said cap sealing restraining means comprising a rotary member having its operative position for restraining the cap sealing means in engagement with said rotary means, and another position out of cooperative relationship with respect to said rotary means, a spindle, the rotary cap sealing restraining means being mounted on said spindle, the latter having a reciprocatory action to move the cap sealing restraining means.

i il 'l 

1. Apparatus for sealing skirted closure caps onto containers having open mouths, comprising a support for the containers each of which has one of the skirted closure caps thereon closing the mouth thereof, with the skirt depending circumferentially thereabout, rotatably mounted sealing means rotating on an axis substantially coaxial with the cap and the skirt thereof, means rotating the sealing means, the sealing means being axially fixed but movably mounted to tend to move radially inwardly to engage the cap at the skirt portion thereof by centrifugal force, means restraining said sealing means against moving inwardly whereby the sealing means normally stays in spaced relation with respect to the cap without impinging upon it, and means interdicting the action of the cap sealing motion restraining means to allow centrifugal force to move the cap sealing means toward the container cap and impinge upon the same to seal it relative to the mouth of the container, the cap sealing restraining means being movable between an operative position where it engages the sealing means and limits the inwarD motion thereof due to the centrifugal action, and an inoperative position where it wholly releases the sealing means, and means to move the container in a direction to engage and move the cap sealing restraining means from operative to inoperative position, a rotary support for said cap sealing means and means to rotate it thereby rotating the cap sealing means, said cap sealing restraining means including a rotary member having an operative position for restraining the cap sealing means in engagement with said rotary support, and an inoperative position out of cooperative relationship with respect to said rotary support.
 2. Apparatus for sealing skirted closure caps onto containers having open mouths at corresponding ends, the opposite ends being closed, comprising a sealing station, a rotary table for the containers intermittently traveling the same seriatum past the sealing station, each container having a skirted closure cap thereon closing the mouth thereof with the skirt depending circumferentially relatively loosely thereabout, sealing means comprising a support, means to rotate the support on an axis, at least two spaced arms, means pivotally mounting said arms on the support, sealing tools on said arms adjacent corresponding ends thereof, weights at the opposite ends of said arms, said weights being radially outwardly located with respect to said tools so that the arms normally tend to move inwardly under centrifugal force for the sealing operation, a non-rotatable spindle located coaxially with said support and midway of the tools, said spindle being axially movable, a rotatable member on the spindle having a position of engagement with respect to said arms maintaining the arms against moving inwardly for the sealing operation, said spindle being retractable to retract said member out of said position of engagement to allow the arms to move said tools inwardly, a plunger aligned with said spindle and movable coaxially with respect thereto to engage the closed end of a container at the sealing station, and moving the container so that the skirted closure thereon impinges upon the said non-rotatable spindle, retracting the same and the member thereon into non-engaging position of the latter with respect to the arms, said arms thereupon moving inwardly to perform the sealing operation, the normal plane of advance of said containers being offset from said tools avoiding interference therewith during the advance of the containers, and the plunger upon moving the container at the sealing station positioning the mouth thereof and cap thereon in a plane with the tools.
 3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 including a leveling device on the plunger, said leveling device contacting the container directly and being self-conforming to the contacted area of the container to provide substantially equal pressure at all points of said area.
 4. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 including a leveling device on the plunger, said leveling device contacting the container directly and being self-conforming to the contacted area of the container to provide substantially equal pressure at all points of said area, said leveling device being in the general nature of a swivel.
 5. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 including a leveling device on the plunger, said leveling device contacting the container directly and being self-conforming to the contacted area of the container to provide substantially equal pressure at all points of said area, said leveling device being in the general nature of a swivel and including a generally flat face that contacts the container.
 6. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 including a leveling device on the plunger, said leveling device contacting the container directly and being self-conforming to the contacted area of the container to provide substantially equal pressure at all points of said area, and means supporting said leveling device to allow it to swivel.
 7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the member on tHe spindle comprises a ring, and including means to mount the ring for the rotation thereof on the spindle.
 8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the member on the spindle comprises a ring, and including means to mount the ring for its rotation thereon coaxially therewith.
 9. The apparatus of claim 2 including rotary means on each arm in position to be engaged by said member in the position of engagement thereof with the arms.
 10. Apparatus for sealing skirted closure caps onto containers having open mouths, comprising a support for the containers each of which has one of the skirted closure caps thereon closing the mouth thereof, with the skirt depending circumferentially thereabout, rotatably mounted sealing means rotating on an axis substantially coaxial with the cap and the skirt thereof, means rotating the sealing means, the sealing means being axially fixed but movably mounted to tend to move radially inwardly to engage the cap at the skirt portion thereof by centrifugal force, means restraining said sealing means against moving inwardly whereby the sealing means normally stays in spaced relation with respect to the cap without impinging upon it, and means interdicting the action of the cap sealing motion restraining means to allow centrifugal force to move the cap sealing means toward the container cap and impinge upon the same to seal it relative to the mouth of the container, a rotary support for said cap sealing means and means to rotate it thereby rotating the cap sealing means, said cap sealing means including a pivoted arm and a cap sealing tool adjacent one end thereof, and a weight at the opposite end of said arm, a rotary member on the arm, said cap sealing restraining means comprising a rotary member having its operative position for restraining the cap sealing means in engagement with said rotary means, and another position out of cooperative relationship with respect to said rotary means, a spindle, the rotary cap sealing restraining means being mounted on said spindle, the latter having a reciprocatory action to move the cap sealing restraining means. 